Weekend warmup: Bruin women in NCAA title chases

UCLA’s No. 1-ranked women’s soccer team is in the NCAA’s "final four" at the College Cup in College Station, Texas, facing USC in the national semifinals. And that’s only one of the highlights of an intense weekend coming up for the Bruins:

Football:

>> Interim Coach DeWayne Walker on Saturday will lead his first practice since Karl Dorrell was dismissed, as UCLA begins its preparations to face BYU on Dec. 22 in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl. Practices are closed to the public.

Men’s basketball:

>> Although the Bruins lost their last game to Texas at Pauley Pavilion, their health is improving dramatically with the return of guard Michael Roll and forward James Keefe to practice this week. UCLA (7-1) will take on Davidson of the Southern Conference at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Wooden Classic in Anaheim.

Women’s basketball:

>> The Bruins are 4-3 and head to the University of San Diego to face the Toreros (4-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday. The game will be videocast on usdtoreros.com and audiocast on uclabruins.com with Dave Marcus on the microphone.

Women’s soccer:

>> The Bruins, led by senior goalkeeper Valerie Henderson (pictured), have a chance to collect NCAA team title No. 101 this weekend at the College Cup in College Station. UCLA (20-1-2) will play USC (18-3-2) in the national semifinals; the Bruins defeated the Trojans, 2-0, earlier this season. The game will be televised on ESPNU beginning at 4 p.m. (Pacific time; 6 p.m., Central) Friday. Florida State (17-5-3) will face Notre Dame (19-4-2) in the first semifinal two hours earlier. The national championship game will be held at 11 a.m. (Pacific time; 1 p.m., Central) Sunday, also on ESPNU.

Women’s volleyball:

>> UCLA has reached the round of 16 and faces some familiar foes in the Stanford regional. Seeded No. 8 nationally, UCLA (22-10) will face Oregon (22-10) at 7 p.m. Friday at Maples Pavilion. The Bruins split with the Ducks this season, winning in four sets at home, but getting swept in Eugene. The match will be televised live on ESPNU. If the Bruins should win and advance to the regional finals, they probably will  meet No. 1-seeded Stanford (29-2). The Cardinal is matched against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (23-7) on Friday, and crushed UCLA twice during the regular season.

Valerie Henderson photo courtesy of UCLA